Blur

Blur emerged from Colchester in 1988 as Seymour before rechristening themselves and becoming architects of Britpop's most intellectually combative strain. Damon Albarn's observational lyrics, Graham Coxon's abrasive guitar textures, Alex James's melodic bass, and Dave Rowntree's propulsive drumming created a sound that synthesised British kitchen-sink realism with art-school experimentalism. Their early albums Leisure (1991) and Modern Life Is Rubbish (1993) established their aesthetic, but Parklife (1994) captured mid-1990s Britain's cultural zeitgeist with surgical precision, spawning hits like "Girls & Boys" and the title track. The album sold over three million copies in the UK alone.

Their rivalry with Oasis became tabloid theatre, the "Battle of Britpop" positioning Blur as the southern, middle-class alternative to Manchester swagger. Yet they transcended that binary. The Great Escape (1995) continued their winning streak before the lo-fi American influence of Blur (1997), featuring "Song 2", took them in rawer directions. 13 (1999) embraced experimental electronics and emotional vulnerability following Albarn and Justine Frischmann's breakup. They've periodically reunited since 2009, releasing The Magic Whip (2015) and The Ballad of Darren (2023), proving their relevance beyond nostalgic currency.